Newcastle United fan goes to St James' Park 60 years after his last visit

Norman Allison last watched Newcastle United at their home ground in 1954, now he's back in town after he emigrated 60 years ago

Norman Allison, 84 will see his first football game in 60 years on Saturday after he left Newcastle to live in Sydney, Australia

Toon fan Norman Allison is set to watch his beloved Magpies this weekend - almost 60 years to the day since he last watched them at St James’ Park.

It was on August 28, 1954, he forked out two shillings to see the team turn out against Sheffield United.

And Norman is hoping for a better result on Saturday against Crystal Palace, this time paying around £27 for the privilege.

For despite boasting a team of legends including Jackie Milburn, Bob Stokoe, Charlie Crowe, Ronnie Simpson, Alf McMichael and Jimmy Scoular, the Toon lost 2-1 with Bobby Mitchell scoring the team’s only goal.

Norman, 84, who was born in Benwell, Newcastle, emigrated to Canada, where he lived for 50 years before moving to Sydney, Australia.

Brothers Norman and Brian Allison outside St James' Park

Over that time he has been dreaming of the day he could return to the ground and this weekend he finally makes his long awaited pilgrimage with his brother Brian, 73.

Norman said: “I follow Newcastle intently and wherever you go you always come across people in the black and white shirt.

“I’ve not seen them for what feels like 100 years. Although I was last there in the Jackie Milburn era, no matter where you go you always take that St James’ Park feeling with you.”

In the season Norman last saw the Magpies they went on to finish 8th in the table which many fans would settle for this year.

That, and the team’s FA Cup run which saw them beat Manchester City 3-1 in the final would do very nicely.

With the team struggling for goals this year, how today’s fans must yearn for a striker like Wor Jackie who hit the net 19 times in 38 league appearances as well as scoring two goals in the team’s triumphant cup run.

Jackie Milburn

And Norman is hoping to see the team channel the spirit of the 1954 outfit.

He said: “It’s my first time in 60 years but I used to go in ‘51, ‘50, ‘49, ‘48 and ‘47 - I started going when it was the Tyne, Tees and Wear League after the war.”

You could say the team is in his blood as Norman said his mum was also a regular at the ground, selling pies to Magpies fans - along with his aunts.

Times have changed and just 12 of the 22 sides who were competing in what was then Division One are present in the top flight of English football this season. Fans might remember the 1954/55 season saw Chelsea lift the title for the first time.

Norman said: “I was disappointed last season, especially after they got off to a great start.

“I’d just like to see them do very well. This Saturday is a must win, the record shows they have got to win and they’ve got to score.

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